As Juan Soto ponders the future, here are ten possible landing spots for 2025

Juan Soto could spend his final days in a Yankees uniform.

Just days after the World Series ends – regardless of whether his team qualifies or not – the former batting champion will become a free agent, able to sign with any team.

He’s not likely to surpass Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million deal signed last December, but he could come close.

Soto made $31 million this season and will be looking for a big raise.

That’s because of his age (26), his MVP-caliber talent and his skills as a left-handed hitter who produces power, hits for average and walks more often than he strikes out (129-119 in 2024).

The four-time All-Star found the short right-field dimensions of Yankee Stadium to his liking, as he finished with a career-high 41 home runs during the regular season.

He also formed the game’s most productive left-right tandem with Aaron Judge, who led the majors with 58 long balls.

But that doesn’t mean the Yankees have any guarantee they’ll keep him.

As an unrestricted free agent, the 6-2, 224-pound Puerto Rican will be coveted by every club in the Majors, although only a handful can afford him.

Here are 10 possible landing spots:

1. New York Mets – Steve Cohen, the richest owner in the major leagues, will spare no effort to bring Soto back to the National League. That would provide another big bat in a lineup that already used the longball to advance to the Championship Series but faces the potential defection of Pete Alonso, another slugger approaching free agency.

2. New York Yankees – If the price is right and the contract is long enough, Soto could stay put, although the team would have to pay him more than Judge, the current captain. It’s certainly a tough call, but getting Soto out of the pinstripes could deflate the balloon that brought the Yankees to the eve of the World Series.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers – Like the Mets, the Dodgers have no qualms about spending big money on the right free agent. They already have three former MVPs at the top of their lineup and would love to fill their clearance spot with Soto.

4. San Diego Padres – Although they were defeated by the Dodgers in the Division Series, the Padres had a better season than anyone expected. And that was after trading Soto to the Yankees in a seven-man trade. They would love to bring him back, but that would cost a fortune at a time when the Pads are trying to cut payroll.

5. Washington Nationals – Soto’s original team offered him over $400 million before he turned it down, prompting him to trade to the Padres. Now the Nats are showing signs of rebirth, thanks to a plethora of top youngsters, and Soto would be the experienced leader they need to become an immediate contender in the NL East.

6. Philadelphia Phillies – A team that never hesitates to spend money, the Phils also have a home park that is a haven. If Soto doesn’t mind playing second fiddle to Bryce Harper, he would bolster a Phillie lineup that imploded during the Division Series against the Mets. The Phillies need some new outfielders anyway.

7. San Francisco Giants – They made big bids for Judge, Ohtani, Xander Bogaerts and other free agents, but ended up with Blake Snell and Matt Chapman. Signing Soto would soothe the ruffled feathers of their fans and recast the Giants as a potent threat to the Dodgers in the NL West.

8. Atlanta Braves – Uncertain about Ronald Acuña’s return date after ACL surgery, this team needs at least one outfielder and a few more bats. Soto was able to solve both problems and bring some much-needed left-handed power to the second spot in the lineup – between Acuna and Austin Riley but ahead of Matt Olson. But the Braves would have to spend a lot more than their usual pattern.

9. Chicago Cubs – Imagine if Soto hit a lot of home runs at Wrigley Field, especially when the wind is blowing toward Lake Michigan. The Friendly Confines would break out regularly, with Soto being the greatest Chicago slugger since the days of Ernie Banks and Billy Williams.

10. Houston Astros – Short size, plus a track record of reaching the playoffs eight years in a row, should convince Soto to consider offers from this club. The Astros fell quickly into the postseason this year as Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve & Co. needed more support behind them.